1. Yellow Blazer (Jacket)

Call me crazy but if you don’t have a yellow blazer it’s time to get one. I can feel it in my bones and my bones are telling me that yellow is bound to be hot this year. If you want to get slightly ahead of the curve go on and purchase yourself a yellow blazer so you can sport it before anyone else does… Well, almost anyone.

2. Matte Nails

I’m slightly obsessed with this trend. You can either ask for this look at your next manicure or buy a bottle yourself! Completely worth the $5.

3. Turban Time

So this trend is not for your every day girl, but I couldn’t resist adding it to the list. Wrap it up if you’re up for a little more than just your average trend.

4. High-Waisted Jeans

They’ve officially made their comeback and I have to say I’m in full support. If you’re feeling the hipster vibe, give them a shot. If you’ve held onto them since 1989 it might just might be time to reconsider. Stick to dark washes or black for a more flattering look. All that said, let’s look for high-waisted skinnies and keep the mom jeans from making their rounds.

Now you may impart your fashion wisdom onto someone else.

There are millions of blogs, 75 million active ones to be exact. And honestly, who has time to dig through each blog to find the one that speaks to you? Our job is to take the work out of finding great blogs so you can get to discovering, reading and sharing the content you love.

So let me translate…

For Bloggers, Canopi is a cost-free way to gain exposure for your blog. Because we know how busy you are, you literally don’t have to do any extra work! Awesome, right? Our Leaderboard currently ranks posts in real-time by which ones are getting the most action, not just who has the most pageviews. We’re leveling the playing field allowing all bloggers on Canopi a new chance each day to be discovered on the top of the leaderboard.

How is this any different from anyone else?

We’re glad you asked!

If you’ve played around with the site you might have noticed a little number in the righthand corner of each post. That’s called a post score. Soon (we’re still in beta) post scores will be customized just for YOU! Each post that matches with who you are + what you love will rank higher on your Leaderboard oppose to a friends. Which means, as a blogger your posts will soon be exposed in front of multiple readers who love blogs similar to yours but may have otherwise never been able to find you! Cool, right?

Also, similar to how you can create playlists on iTunes or Spotify, you can now create “bloglists” on Canopi. Then you’re able to subscribe to other cool peoples lists (including your friends). When they find great new blogs, so will you!

With over 250 million monthly searches for terms such as “how do I find blogs?” Our mission is to give great bloggers, like yourself, a piece of the exposure you deserve while helping readers easily discover more blogs (not just the top ones) we know they’ll love.

Are we ever going to get to work with brands?

The short answer is absolutely! The long answer… we want to make sure we have the best system possible before throwing half-ass brand opportunities your way. Pardon my French. My pet peeve as a blogger is “off-topic” pitches & offers such as “high-resolution images” in exchange for a post written about their brand. We’ve all gotten them and it’s time that we create a better way for brands and bloggers to work together.

That being said, we’re inching closer and expect in the next few months or even less to start presenting our bloggers with brand opportunities based on how well you match. You’ll then start receiving e-mails from us when we think a brand partnership jives with your blog. If it’s something that you’re interested in, all you’ll have to do is “opt in”. If the brand selects you, we stay out-of-the-way and allow you all to work together in the name of brand/blogger matrimony. I mean we even gave it a nickname, Brogger, but it just doesn’t quite have the same ring as Kimye.

Do you own your content?

Hells YES! You own your content, and any site that tells you differently should send you running for the hills. Rest assured, we honor your writing and don’t make any changes to your content. No matter what, it always belongs to you. As your blog is exposed to more readers via the Canopi platform, your readership will grow – we’ll even provide you with a bi-monthly statistics report that details the number of people reading, following and sharing your blog. Use these statistics as a way to leverage your current brand relationships and let them know that your blog now has double the exposure!

What about duplicate blog content? Won’t that hurt me?

No worries, kid! We’ve already let Google know that you’re the original content creator which allows all the SEO to be re-directed back to your site. Rather than hurting your blog, think of us as a little SEO boost. You know the good tasting ones with extra vitamins.

Okay I’ll shut up…

Hopefully I’ve covered all the big talking points. Well, at least enough to keep my ears from burning. Seriously, has anyone else heard of this phrase or am I the only one? I digress… If you have any questions at all feel free to reach out to me personally at erin@canopi.me. From my co-founders and I to you… WE CAN’T WAIT to follow your blog under the Canopi!

And the first obsession goes to… a coffee mug. This might not come as a surprise for those of you who know me. One thing that I will say, is if this isn’t a mug shot I don’t know what is. Well, actually I do, but it normally involves a celebrity with red hair and not a pretty little latte with a foam swirl. That being said, this mug is totally worth the $12 on Nomorerack. It’s simply picture perfect. I know. I know, but couldn’t help the pun.

I let out a loud squeal when I found out about this next collaboration. On June 30th, Target and Feed Projects are collaborating to FEED kids in America. Each item you buy lets you know how many meals will now be provided thanks to you. Looks like I have a date on June 30th.

Gone are the days of being made fun of for still wearing Keds. Anyone? Just me. Alright moving on…

To mark my territory in Detroit, it was only appropriate that I find the best mall to shop around. Turns out I found more than I had budgeted for thanks to Aritzia. Not only have I added this store to my mental list of favorite places, but they also carry a brand that I believe every girl has a right to know about. It’s called Wilfred. You don’t have to believe everything I say, in fact, it’s probably best you don’t. However, when I discuss t-shirts I mean business. Believe me when I say that these Wilfred t-shirts may be the softest, most comfortable, stylish shirts I’ve ever felt. If you’re looking for something that isn’t going to shrink after one wash and can be as comfy as your old tee you can’t seem to let go. I’d click on the photo below.

By now I shouldn’t have to preface this with the fact that I am a huge fan of TOMS. It should probably be expected. So when I found out they had released a new line of styles. I may have dropped a hint or two or three at my unsuspecting husband. But seriously, look at that shoe. It has a periodic table! What TOMS nerd couldn’t geek out over it! 

My Pinterest account has been off the charts lately thanks to this little guy below. I’ve gotten multiple requests asking where YOU could find this cover up. The J. Crew Cover Up  is unfortunately SOLD OUT due to popular demand. J. Crew did, however, leave a phone number to contact them with requests. I suggest letting them know this one is worth restocking!

Mr. Google Reader, an RSS feed aggregator, confidant, and former innovator died on July 1, 2013 in Mountain View, California. He was 8 years old, or in dog years 56. In other sad news, he was on the same boat as Ms. Snapseed and Mr. Google Cloud Connect. His death was confirmed by a spokesperson from his former company. Mr. Reader was located in a little place called the internet.

Other survivors include the Pope, Bloggers, Developers, Google Search, Google Drive, and Google +. It was said that Mr. Reader’s friends received an update shockingly minutes after he was pronounced dead. One friend stated that the death of Mr. Reader made him re-examine his life, while others have already started looking for new ways to cope.

His friends hope that you’ll take the opportunity to pay your respects. Mr. Reader’s life was a good one, but unfortunately over the last year he had been slowly neglected. People had even gone as far as saying that he couldn’t quite function like he used to. However, Mr. Reader has moved on to better space just like his followers.

His family wanted to leave his followers with a quote passed down from his former employer. “Death is just life’s way of telling you that you’re fired.”

Visitation will start July 2nd.

Services are expected to follow at a much prettier place location at Canopi.

When I was reading through an article that recommended I wear sparkle pants for a night out, I couldn’t help but to envision the looks I would receive in the Midwest after leaving a sequins trail (because lets get real, they never stay on) & likely bread stick crumbs from your oh so typical chain restaurant. This is exactly why I began Reality Chic, to show a slightly more sarcastic yet stylish side of life for 20 somethings who wouldn’t and/or couldn’t be caught wearing sparkle pants. Little did I know, that I would be in for a ride…

Reality Chic was once a place that helped 20 somethings transition their style from college into the real world. In college, it’s all fun and beer pong until you graduate. You accept your well-deserved diploma in a weird cape of a dress that more or less represents Judge Judy and not the university, walk across the stage in black closed-toed heels and gladly accept the ”B.S.” (bachelors of science, of course) that officially enters you into the real world. You’re excited, ambitious, and optimistic of what lies ahead . But let’s not forget you are a little uncertain about the lack of a job and your new “apartment” that is mistakenly identical to your parents house.

Though you have a new perspective on your so-called 20 something adult life you’re not quite sure where you or your style belongs in your twenties. Adult? Sophisticated? Young? Hot? Fiance? Trendy? Wife? Comfortable? Mom? Executive Assistant? Simple? Waitress? Nurse? Teacher? Edgy? Girlfriend? Student?

Whether you’re 22 or 29, it’s likely you and your liver recovered from the past 4 years of partying and eating late night Taco Bell (80% beef, really?). The question is… did your wardrobe?

Does it still resemble a somewhat broke, college/high school fanatic, skimpy clubbish, ultra comfy, homeless, formal version of yourself better known as a wardrobe hangover? With cheap $8 Forever 21 shirts, college and left over high school apparel, a Northface zip-up, giant Uggs, Victoria Secret sweatpants, and formal dresses, there isn’t many places a post grad should go let alone be seen in these type of clothes.

It’s probable that you feel like somewhat of an “in-betweener” when it comes to fashion. You’re afraid of looking matronly, but don’t want to dress like you’re a student either (even though you might technically still be one). You want to attempt to look young and stylish, but still look your age. And you also need a balanced wardrobe that can take you from the office to happy hour or shopping to dinner with friends.

No worries, I too am there!

Fast forward 3 1/2 years later and this once disheartened recent grad went from unemployed blogger (seriously depressing) to passionate president (seriously loving) of Canopi.me. This blog brought me back to reality, made me more fashionable than I ever could have imagined, and brought me more opportunities than I possibly could have dreamed of. And to that, I owe this blog, my readers, and the blogosphere itself something bigger than just a thanks and a few extra posts. I want to leave it a better place than when I started.

While it’s still important for me to help to 20 somethings transition to new style, I’m ready to share my journey on a slightly more personal and, of course, fashionable note. At the beginning of this journey, ‘reality chic’ was something that I aspired to. Now I’m finally able to give you a real look (naturally documented by iphotos) at the world where my blog has taken me. From fashion to my life in a startup to my mad addiction to coffee & hipsters (don’t judge), it’s time to show off a glimpse into how my reality (some way or another) actually became chic!